Twirling figurine toy



United States Patent Oifice 3,546,808 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 3,546,808TWIRLING FIGURINE TOY Frank Kohner, New York, N.Y., and Albert Stubbman,

Franklin Lakes, N.J., assignors to Kohner Bros, Inc.,

East Paterson, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 12, 1968, Ser.No. 783,364 Int. Cl. A63h N US. Cl. 46-59 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A toy figurine is secured to a spindle which is positionedabove a hollow base having an offset pillar with an inwardly extendingtip. The top of the spindle is journalled in the pillar tip and thebottom of the spindle extends through a hole in the base and twirls onthe bottom of said base. A pull string extending into the base is loopedaround the spindle and anchored to a rotarybiased take-up spool. Pullingof the string causes the spindle and figurine to turn. The stringautomatically rewinds about the spool. The spool has projections thatknock on the bottom of the base to generate an activity noise. With thestring extended and held fast, release of the base will cause the entiretoy to travel toward the extended string end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Spinning toys.

Description of the prior art It has been known heretofore to utilizepull strings in been commonly utilized to effect rotation of tops.Additionally known previously, has been the use of pull cords to rotatejournalled spinning toys, wherein the spinning toys were mounted on abase. Among the difiiculties encountered with sorne of these priordevices was the fact that once pulled, the string would have to berethreaded for winding and/ or rewound manually.

It has been additionally known to utilize return mechanisms for thewinding of the pull strings. Generally these previous rewindingmechanisms involved a plurality of parts and entailed considerableexpense in manufacture.

All of the prior known pull string spinning toys lacked a simple meansfor producing a secondary animation distinct from the actual spinning.Where only a single means of animation is provided, a young childreadily loses interest in the toy.

Additionally known heretofore was the use, in conjunction with spinningtoys, of an attractively designed support which served to conceal a pullstring return mechanism. In prior devices, the string return mechanismwould be exposed, thus easily entangling the pull string by anyinadvertent interfering motions of the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a spinning figurine toy of the character described which is soconstructed that it is not subject to any of the foregoing drawbacks.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide aspinning figurine toy of the character described which is simple andrugged in construction, yet can be fabricated by mass production methodsat an appreciably lower cost than prior devices designed to serve thesame function.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a spinningfigurine toy of the character described wherein secondary animation isprovided in conjunction with, yet

distinct from, the spinning of the figurine to maintain the interest andenhance the enjoyment of a child.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pull stringanimated spinning figurine toy of the character described wherein aresiliently biased take-up spool is positioned to produce a vibratingsound as the pull string animates the figurine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pull stringanimated spinning figurine toy wherein, a resiliently biased pull stringtake-up spool includes means which is operable to displace the spinningaxis of said figurine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pull stringanimated spinning figurine toy wherein a figurine is journalled forrotation between a supporting base and an overhead bearing supported byan offset pillar and wherein a resiliently biased take-up spool willcause the figurine and base to move laterally across a supportingsurface upon the release of the base with the free end of the pullstring held fast in its extended position.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a pullstring animated figurine toy wherein an easily assemblable pull stringtake-up spool is biased for rotation on a rubber band axis.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of animating apull string spinning figurine toy wherein the toy is capable of bothrotational and translational movement.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements, arrangements of parts and a series of stepshereinafter described and of which the scope of application will beindicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in whichis shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pull string animated spinning figurinetoy constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the relativepositions of the pull string, the take-up spool and the spindle when thepull string is fully extended; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3 and showing in dot-and-dash lines the position of the pull stringtake-up spool and the spindle as said spool begins to rewind the pullstring.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention generallycomprises a toy figurine which is secured to a vertical spindle and islocated between a lower hollow base and an overhead bracket carried by apillar which extends in offset position from the base. The upper end ofthe spindle is journalled for rotation in the overhead bearing and thelower end of the spindle passes through an opening in the base andtwirls about the bottom of the base when a pull string is allowed toretract into the base after having been extended. The pull stringextends into the base, is then wrapped for one or a few turns about aportion of the spindle and has one end secured to a take-up spool; thespool is rotatably biased to maintain the pull string in a woundposition. As the free end of the pull string is pulled outwardly fromthe base the spindle will turn rapidly, because of the small diameter ofthe spindle, spinning the figurine,

and the take-up spool will unwind. The spool biasing means will store uprotative energy during unwinding of the spool. Portions projecting fromthe take-up spool strike the bottom of the base producing a resoundingnoise. When the extended pull string is released the stored rotativeenergy will turn the spool so as to rapidly wind the pull stringthereon. If, however, the extended pull string is held and the base isreleased, the take-up spool will still wind the pull string under theaction of the stored rotative energy, moving the base and the figurinetoward the end of the pull string which is held in the users hand. Asthe take-up spool rewinds the pull string a similar noise is generated.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral denotes apull string animated spinning toy which embodies the present invention.The toy includes a figurine 12 fast on a vertical spindle 14 that runsvertically therethrough and projects from both the top and bottom of thefigurine.

A hollow supporting base 1 6 is provided and the figurine 12 ispositioned between said base and an overhead vertical bearing 18. Thebearing 18 is at the inturned tip of an offset pillar 19 that projectsupwardly from a rear wall 20 of the base 16. The bearing is directlyover the figurine 12 and loosely journals the upper end of the spindle.

The lower portion of the spindle 14 projects into the base 16 which isunitan'ly formed of integrally molded construction with a top wall 26, afront wall 28, side walls 30, and the rear wall 20. The spindle passesthrough an enlarged opening 32 in the top 26 that is about twice thediameter of the slender spindle.

An outwardly stepped flange 34 is formed at the lower edge of the front,side and rear Walls of the base 16. The inner wall of the flange 34 andthe undersurface 36 of the stepped portion of the flange act as a seatagainst which a bottom plate 38 is secured as by a snap fit or adhesive.The flange 34 and the bottom plate 38 are so dimensioned that theundersurface of the bottom plate 38 and the lower face of the flange 34are substantially flush.

With the figurine 12 positioned between the overhead bracket and thebase, the lower portion of the spindle 14 projects into the base untilthe lower tip thereof contacts the bottom plate. This position isillustrated in FIG. 2 and it is to be observed that the lower tip of thespindle 14 touches the bottom plate 38 while the under portion of thefigurine 12 is still spaced from the top wall 26 of the base. Moreoverin this position, which is the idle position of the toy, the top of thefigurine is below the undersurface of the bearing 18.

The pillar 19 is secured to the rear wall 20 of the base 16 by adhesive,with its lower edge in abutting con tact with the upper surface of thestepped peripheral flange 34. To provide additional strengthening of theconnection between the pillar and the base 16, a pair of legs 40 projectfrom the lower portion of the opposite edges of the pillar 19, Each leg40' is secured to a respective side wall 30 of the base 16 with itslower edge in abutting contact with the upper surface of said flange 34.The tips 42 of the legs have inwardly facing longitudinal channelstherein which conform to the shape of the flange 34 and side walls 30 sothat the inner surfaces of the end portions of the tips are spaced fromthe flange and side walls for a purpose to be subsequently described.

To further strengthen the connection between the bottom of the pillarand the rear wall 30, an oflset hook 44 projects from the center of thelower edge of the pillar 19, first normally into an opening in the rearwall 30 and then downward to rest against the inner surface of theflange 34.

An animating means is housed within the base 16 with a pull stringactuator 46 threaded through an opening 48 in the front wall 28. Toprevent retraction of the free end of the pull string 46 into the baseand to facilitate gripping said free end, said end of the pull string issecured to a ring 50.

Within the base the pull string is looped (takes one or two turns) aboutthe spindle 14 and is anchored at its opposite end to a take-up spool52. The take-up spool is mounted on a rubber band axle 54- which spansthe space between the side walls 30*. The take-up spool 52 is generallycruciform in cross section with four oppositely disposed equiangularlyspaced Webs. The anchored end of the pull string 46 is secured to one ofsaid webs by being looped through a central opening in said web andbeing securely tied thereto.

Three of the webs which form the take-up spool 52 are formed with aconcavely shaped radially outermost edge, the ends 58 thereof projectingradially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the spool a distancegreater than the central portions of said webs. The concavity of theouter edges facilitates the winding of the pull string 46. As the pullstring is wound it tends to wind about the central portion of theconcave surface and thus will not wander beyond an end of the spool.

The fourth web 60 is constructed to readily and easily provide anarrangement for mounting the take-up spool on the axle 54. This web isconstituted of two parallel flanges 61 projecting from the centralportion of the takeup spool 52 to form a U channel that receives theaxle 54. To mount the take-up spool on the axle, the axle is threadedinto the U-channel between the flanges 61. A plug 62 is then insertedand serves as a closure preventing the axle from disengaging from thetake-up spool. The outer edges of the flanges constitute the concaveradially outermost edges of the fourth web.

The axle 54 extends between the two side walls 30 in a position which isabove the bottom plate 38. Two narrow slits 64 are provided for securingthe axle ends to the base 16, one slit in each side wall 30. Each slitprojects upwardly from the bottom of the side Wall. The tips 42 of thepillar legs 40 are so relatively positioned that the verticallychanneled portion of each tip 42 covers the associated slit 64, leavinga slight space for a purpose hereinafter described.

The slits 64 are so dimensioned with respect to the axle 54 that theaxle 54 may be forced within the slit only after being longitudinallystretched. When the axle 54 is stretched, its cross-section decreasesand thus it may be inserted into the narrow slits 64.

To assemble the take-up spool within the base 16 both ends of the axleare first wound to pretension the spool for maintaining the pull stringin a wound position. The respective ends of the axle 54 are thenstretched by pulling, and forced into the slits 64. The ends of the axle54 are positioned at the upward ends of the slits 64, being slid betweenthe channels of the tips 42 which are spaced from the side walls 30 andflanges 34 a distance such as to frictionally squeeze and bind said endsin the channels, in addition to the ends frictionally squeezed and boundin the slits. In the final mounted position, the ends of the axleproject upwardly above the tips 42. At this time the string is woundabout the spool, the ring 50 abuts the front wall 28 and the rubber bandaxle exerts suflicient torque to hold said ring in such position andmaintains the pull string tensioned.

In operation, the ring 50 is pulled and the pull string 46 unwinds fromthe spool 52. This further twists the ends of the axle 54 and increasesthe stored rotational energy contained therein. While the pull stringupwinds from the spool it will turn the spindle 14, causing the figurinemounted thereon to rotate because the string is tightly wrapped aboutthe spindle, with the pull string tensioned from its opposite ends.Inasmuch as the spindle is of small diameter the figurine will turnrapidly. It will be observed that this string tensioning also lifts thespindle as shown in FIG. 3 so that its tip is clear of the bottom wall38.

The maximum height of the spool 52 is governed by the height of theupper ends of the slits 64 within which the ends 55 of the axle aresecured. This elevation is somewhat lower than that of the opening 48through which the pull string 46 is withdrawn. Thus, as the pull stringis withdrawn from the base 16, the pull string exerts an upward force onthe spindle 14 lifting the spindle and figurine. Additionally, becausethe opening 32 in the top wall 26 is of a diameter approximately twicethat of the spindle 14, pulling the pull string 46 moves the spindle 14into journalled contact with the front of said opening 32 as illustratedin FIG. 3.

A noise making feature which is operative is provided while the pullstring is being withdrawn or retracted and the figurine rotates. Aspreviously mentioned, the ends 58 of the webs of the four like concavewebs of the takeup spool 52 project radially a distance further from thecenter of the spool then the centers of the webs. These ends 58 projecta distance which is sufiicient to contact the upper surface of thebottom plate 38. While the spool 52 rotates due to the unwinding orwinding of the pull string 46, the ends 58 repeatedly knock against thebottom 38 causing a resounding percussive noise.

To amplify this noise, the bottom plate 38 is spaced above a horizontalsupporting surface, e.g., a floor or table top, by integrally formedsquat legs 66. Each leg 66 is positioned at a corner of the bottom plate38 and serves to maintain the bottom plate in a position elevated from asupporting surface 68. The legs additionally serve to reduce frictionalresistance between the base and a supporting surface for a purposehereinafter described.

After the pull string is fully withdrawn from the base, it stops in itsfully extended position as is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pullstring may be rewound about the spool 52 in a plurality of differentmanners.

As previously mentioned, the spool is biased by the rubber band axle torotate in a direction which will wind the pull string (counter clockwiseas shown in FIG. 3) around the spool. This is due to the fact that theaxle 54 was initially biased to wind the pull string. Unwinding of thepull string stores further energy within the axle so that the axle isnow twisted a sufficient number of turns to exert considerable torque ina direction which will wind the pull string.

If the extended pull string is released while the base is held, thetake-up spool rapidly rewinds the pull string and the string slipsaround the spindle 14 without causing rotation of the spindle. As thisoccurs the spindle drops so that its lower tip rests on the bottom wall38. Optionally the lower portion of the spindle may be knurled toincrease frictional engagement between the pull string and spindle,whereby upon release of the extended pull string, the spindle andfigurine will twirl.

Alternatively the pull string may be allowed to slowly retract as by achild holding both the free end of the pull string and the base whileallowing the pull string to be withdrawn slowly into the base. In thisinstance, there is tension at both ends of the pull string. Both theanchored end and the free end have forces acting in opposite directions,hence the pull string is tight about the spindle. The spindle 14 willnow rotate as the pull string is withdrawn into the base and, hence, thefigurine will spin.

A third method in which the pull string may be unwound is to rest thebase on a flat smooth supporting surface with the free end of the pullstring held fast a distance from the base. The base is then released andwill slide along the supporting surface, following the unwound portionof the pull string as the pull string winds about the spool. In thismethod of rewinding there is again tension at both ends of the pullstring, i.e., the anchored end and the free end, so that the pull stringis wrapped tightly about the spindle and will cause the spindle to twirlas the pull string is withdrawn into the base whereby the figurine willspin.

It thus will be seen that there are provided a twirling figurine toy andmethods of using the same which achieve the several objects of thisinvention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practicaluse.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention andas various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is tobe understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A twirling figurine toy, said toy comprising a hollow base, an offsetpillar projecting upwardly from said base, said pillar having aninturned tip, an overhead vertical bearing supported by said tip, anupright spindle, a figurine positioned above said base and below saidbearing, said figurine being secured to said spindle, a portion of saidspindle projecting below said figurine and into said base, a portion ofsaid spindle projecting above said figurine and journalled for rotationwithin said overhead bearing, a pull string extending into said base, atake-up spool in said base, said pull string being looped about saidportion of said spindle projecting into said base, one end of said pullstring being anchored to said spool, said pull string being wound aboutsaid spool when said toy is idle, the other end of said string beingfree and external to said base, a rubber band axle on which said spoolis fast, said rubber band axle being positioned within said hollow basebetween opposite walls of said base, said rubber and axle being woundand storing rotational energy when said pull string is withdrawn fromsaid base, said spindle and said figurine being twirled as said pullstring is withdrawn from said base, said pull string being retractedinto said base and rewound about said spool under the action of saidstored rotational energy.

2. The twirling figurine toy of claim 1 wherein a noise making meansprojects axially from said spool, said noise making means knockingagainst said hollow base as said spool rotates.

3. The twirling figurine toy of claim 2 wherein said hollow baseincludes a bottom, said noise making means intermittently knockingagainst said bottom as said spool rotates.

4. The twirling figurine toy of claim 3 wherein said base rests on asupporting surface, said base includes formations projecting downwardlytherefrom, said formations presenting a space between said base and saidsupporting surface, said space facilitating the transmission andamplification of sound vibrations when said noise making means knocksagainst said bottom.

5. The twirling figurine toy of claim 1 wherein slits are provided onopposite walls of said base, said slits being of a width less than thecross-section of said axle, portions of said axis adjacent the endsthereof being squeezed and bound in said slits.

6. The twirling figurine toy of claim 1 wherein said spool includes aplurality of radially projecting webs, the outer edges of said websbeing concave in shape, the central portions of said webs projectingradially a distance from the center of said spool less than the ends ofsaid webs.

7. The twirling figurine toy of claim 6 wherein one of said websincludes tow parallel spaced flanges forming a U channel with the centerof said spool as the base thereof, a portion of said axle positionedwithin said center, and an elongate plug positioned between said spacedflanges.

8. The twirling figurine toy of claim 1 wherein said base includesformations projecting downwardly, said base adapted to rest on a smoothflat supporting surface with said formations as the sole points ofcontact between said base and said smooth fiat supporting surface, saidformations lying in a common plane and thereby serving to reducefrictional resistance between said base and said supporting surface.

9. A method of animating a twirling figurine toy constructed as setforth in claim 8, said method comprising placing said base on saidsmooth flat supporting surface,

holding the free end of said pull string at a point along FOREIGNPATENTS said supporting surface spaced from said base and then 522 2991921 France 46 59 releasing said base and allowing it to move along said764,546 193 4 France 46 59 supporting surface toward said held free endof said pull 5 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner References C'ted D LWEINHOLD IR A '1 tE UNITED STATES PATENTS an Xammer 187,062 2/1877Steller 4659 vs. C1.X.R. 195,326 9/1877 Bailey 9 6 0 1 5 872,962 12/1907Nigger 46-190 4 6 7 1,779,349 10/1930 Whatley 46-206

